Electrical connector



June 6, 1967 J. M. P ISTEY 3,324,447

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J/WEA/TOR JbknM. P/s Z195,

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June 6, 167 J. M. PISTEY 3,324,447

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 28. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1%? J.M. PISTEY 3,324,447

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 28. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F1010 PLJ/vm/we J01? M P/lstey,

June 6, 1967 m nv 3,324,447

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed May 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I95 196 20'] 20TI AW M 9 JN VENTOR Jo/m M P s bay,

Attorney.

This invention relates to an electrical connector for wires, andparticularly to such an electrical connector that is simple tomanufacture and easy to use.

In the past, one device that has been used to connect electricalconductors or wires together is a wire nut. The wire nut has a metallicinternal thread and external insulation. The internal thread is placedover the bare ends of two or more electrical wires in side-by-siderelationship, after which the wire nut is screwed onto the wires,twisting the wires into secure electrical relationship with one another.Another device that has been employed to connect electrical wirestogether is a metal ferrule or tube covered by flexible insulatingmaterial. Two or more electrical wires are inserted into the ferrule andthe ferrule is mechanically deformed to crimp the wires into electricalengagement within the ferrule.

Where each group or pair of wires of a plurality of such groups must berespectively connected, one prior art device such as described isrequired for each group of wires. But, in some electrical systems, itmay be desirable to have a single connector that respectively connectseach group of wires of a plurality of such groups. With such aconnector, groups of wires of different voltages or groups of wires ofdistinct circuits can be independently electrically connected within asingle connector. Generally, a single connector is simple andinexpensive to manufacture. And in any connector, it may be desirablethat one wire or that groups of wires can be quickly and easilyconnected and disconnected.

Accordingly, a general object of this invention is to provide animproved electrical connector.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricalconnector with which a plurality of groups of conductors can berespectively connected.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector inwhich two or more wires can be connected in various combinations, andthat permits any connected wire to be easily disconnected.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electrical connectorthat is simple in construction, and that can respectively connect aplurality of pairs of electrical wires.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I have provided an improvedelectrical connector having two substantially similar housing members.Each housing member has a plurality of terminal receiving cavitiesformed in a facing surface. And each cavity connects to a wire openingthat extends through the remainder of the housing member to the outsidesurface opposite the facing surface. The two housing members areconstructed so that when they are assembled, each terminal receivingcavity in one housing member is aligned with a respective terminalreceiving cavity in the other housing member to form a pair of alignedcavities. An interconnecting wire openings associated with a giveninterconnecting terminal, the respective wires are electricallyconnected 3,324,447 Patented June 6, 1967 by the given interconnectingterminal. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention, there is only asingle interconnecting terminal in each pair of aligned cavities toconnect the respective wires. In another embodiment of the invention, aninterconnecting terminal is positioned in each terminal receiving cavityof each of the two housing members so that when the two housing membersare assembled, the two interconnecting terminals engage and are joined.Each set of joined interconnecting terminals may engage, hold, andelectrically connect wires in the same manner as the singleinterconnecting terminals.

Further aspects of my invention will become apparent hereinafter, andthe specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as my invention.The invention, however, as to organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector embodying myinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the electrical connector of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of one end of the electrical connectorof FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector ofFIGURE 1 with a portion of one housing member broken away to showcertain details;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another form of interconnectingterminals having a unitary assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of one end of a second form of myelectrical connector employing another arrangement for holding thehousing members together;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of my electricalconnector;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURES 10 and 11 are respective views of the left and right portions ofthe connector of FIGURE 8 when disconnected;

FIGURE 12 shows an inner, side view of ahousing member shown in FIGURES,8-11;

FIGURE 13 shows an exploded perspective .viewvof a housing of FIGURES8l0 with a portion of one housing member broken away to show certaindetails; and 7 FIGURE 14 shows a perspective view of an interconnectingterminal used in the embodiment of FIGURES 8-13.

With reference to FIGURES 1-4 of the drawings, there is shown anelectrical connector 20 constructed in accordance with one embodiment ofmy invention. The electrical connector 20 has a housing 2 1 comprised oftwo identical insulating housing members 22, 23 made of a suitablematerial such as plastic. I have chosen to mold my housing members 22,23 with a thermosetting plastic material such as phenolic although othermaterials such as certain thermoplastics which do not creep with age andstress would also be suitable. The members 22, 23 are held together bytwo spring clips 24, 25 that fit over external lugs or projections onthe ends 30. Since the two housing members 22, 23 are identical, thesame reference numerals have been used on their corresponding parts. Asshown in FIGURE 4, the upperhousing member 22 has been rotated degreesabout an imaginary axis between its ends 30 from the position of thelower housing member 23. Thus, the exterior surface or wall 26 and otherparts of the housing member 22 can be seen, and interior parts of thehousing member 23 can be seen. When the two housing members 22, 23 areassembled, they "are positioned so that a first side 31. of the housingmember 22 is adjacent a second side 32 of the housing member 23. Thesecond side 32 of each of the housing members 22, 23 has a recess 33partially bounded by an inwardly located recess wall 34 extendinglongitudinally along the length of the housing members 22, 23. A smallgap 39 is provided at each end of the recess wall 34. The first side 31has a projection 35 that fits into or mates with the recess 33 in thesecond side 32. The projection 35 extends longitudinally along thelength of the housing members 22, 23. End projections 36 extend halfwayalong each end 30 of the housing members 22, 23 so as to fit into ormate with the gaps 39. Inwardly of the projection 35 is a shelf 37 whichmates or interfits with the recess wall 34. Thus, when the housinmembers 22, 23 are assembled, the projections 35, 36 are respectivelylocated in the recesses 33 and gaps 39 and hold the housing members 22,23 in the proper relation. The sides 31, 32 of the housing members 22,23 may also be provided with projections 85, 84 respectively to providea greater top wall area that can be engaged by knock-out pins in themold (not shown) to aid in removing the housing members from the moldcavities.

Each of the ends 30 of each of the housing members 22, 23 has a centerprojecting stud 44 and two outer projecting studs 46, 47. A groove 45 isformed in an edge of the center stud 44, and respective grooves 50, 51are formed in the edges of the outer studs 46, 47. These grooves 45, 50,51 are located remotely from facing or mating surfaces of the housingmembers 22, 23 for receiving a spring-like clip member 24. Channels 48,49 separate the center stud 44 from the outer studs 46, 47. Thesechannels 48, 49 also receive the clip member 24. FIGURE 3 shows how theclip member 24 fits and holds the housing members 22, 23 together. Acenter 62 of the clip member 24 fits in the groove 45, the legs 63, 64fit in the channels 48, 49, and the feet 65, 66 fit in the grooves 51,50. The clip member 24 is snapped into position, and fits so that thefeet 65, 66 and center 62 are sprung and pull the center stud 44 of onehousing member and the outer studs 46, 47 of the other housing membertoward each other. A key slot 52 is provided in each center stud 44 tofacilitate insertion and removal of the clip member 24.

Each of the exterior walls 26 of the housing members 22, 23 has aplurality of generally keyhole shaped aligned wire openings 67, 68, 69.In the embodiments shown, there are three wire openings 67, 68, 69, butmore or less Wire openings can be provided, depending on the number ofconnections the housing 21 is to provide. As shown in FIGURE 2, the wireopening 67 has a large bore portion 70 which extends into the housingmember, and which is dimensioned to receive a wire with its outer insulation intact. The wire opening 67 also has a small bore portion 71which extends from the large bore portion 70 into the interior of thehousing 21, and which is preferably dimensioned to receive the bare wirebut to block the portion of the wire with insulation. Normally, theinsulation is stripped from the wire before the wire is inserted intothe opening 67. A release slot or groove 72 is formed in one side of theopening 67 to permit the insertion of a wire release tool against aterminal inside the housing 21 so as to release a wire held by theterminal in a manner to be described later. A sloping or beveled surface73 leads from the exterior wall 26 into the slot 72 to guide the wirerelease tool into the slot 72. The wire openings 68, 69 are similar tothe opening 67, and have large bore portions 74, 80, small bore portions75, 81, release slots 76, 82, and sloping surfaces 77, 83, respectively.

Three metallic, generally Z shaped, interconnecting terminals 86, 87, 90are provided for the housing 21. These terminals 86, 87, 90 are madefrom flat strips of a resilient metallic material such as silver platedPhosphor bronze.

The terminal 86 has a wire engaging portion 92 at one end, a connectingportion 92 intermediate its ends, and a second wire engaging portion 93at the other end. The other terminals 87, are similar with respectivewire engaging portions 95, 97, 100, 102 and connecting portions 96, 101.Each of the wire engaging portions is bent about its longitudinal axisfor a short distance to form a V-shaped edge 94 (preferably an obtuseangle) at its outer end, this V-shape tapering to a fiat surface aboutmidway along the length of the wire engaging portion. This V-shaped edge94 helps to guide a wire to be connected into the proper position forbeing held.

Each of the housing members 22, 23 has three terminal receiving cavities103, 104, 105 formed therein. These cavities 103, 104, 105 are formed inthe interior of the housing members 22, 23 by two inside walls 107, 110.The cavities 103, 104, 105 have respective bottom walls 117, 123, 111which are substantially similar. More of the bottom wall 111 of thecavity 105 may be seen in FIGURE 4 where port-ions of the recess wall 32of the housing member 23 have been broken away. This bottom wall 111 hasa lower, fiat base portion 114, an intermediate sloping portion 113, anda higher or offset, fiat portion 112 through which the small boreportion 81 of the wire opening 69 enters. In FIGURES 4 and 5, thesloping portion 113 is shown as a plane surface that conforms with theconnecting portion 101 of the terminal 90. However, the sloping portion113 may be stepped, or curved, or some other shape depending onmanufacturing conditions or preferences. The bottom walls 117, 123 ofthe cavities 103, 104 are similar to the bottom wall 111 of the cavity105. But in FIGURE 4, only parts of their fiat base portions and partsof their sloping portions are visible.

When the housing 21 is assembled, the three terminals 86, 87, 90 arerespectively positioned in the cavities 103, 104, 105 of the housingmember 23 with their wire engaging portions 93, 97, 102 resting on thebottom walls 117, 123, 111. The V-shaped edge of each of the outer endsof the terminals 86, 87, 90 is near or adjacent the respective smallbore portions 71, 75, 81 of the wire openings in the housing member 23.The other housing member 22 is positioned over the housing member 23 sothat its three cavities respectively fit over the wire engaging portions91, 95, of the terminals 86, 87, 90 and so that the projections 35, 36of each housing member respectively fit in and mate with the recess 33and the gaps 39 of the other housing member. When the housing members22, 23 are so fitted, their respective cavities register to formcompleted cavities, each of which contains a terminal. Thus, respectivepairs of cavities are mated or joined together. Also, the recess wall 34of each housing member is located adjacent the projection 35 and shelf37 of the other housing member. The two housing members 22, 23 arefastened and held together by the clip members 24, 25. In placing a clipmember, such as shown in FIGURE 3, the two feet 65, 66 of the clipmember 24 are placed in the grooves 51, 50 and the center 62 of the clipmember 24 is pushed upwardly over the center stud 44 into the groove 45.The clip member 24 is resilient and as it passes over the outer edges ofthe center stud 44, it snaps into the groove 45 and holds the housingmembers 22, 23 together tightly. The legs 63, 64 fit in the chanels 48,49 to help hold the housing members 22, 23 in alignment.

FIGURE 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the terminal 90 in thecompleted cavity (formed by the terminal receiving cavity of the housingmember 23 and the terminal receiving cavity 103: of the housing member22 when the housing members 22, 23 are assembled). The bent portions(i.e., the portions between the wire engaging portions 100', 102 and theconnecting portion 101) of the terminal 90 rest against the baseportions (114 in the cavity 105), and the wire engaging portions 100,102 rest against the sloping portions (113 in the cavity 105). The endsof the wire engaging portions 100,

102 are positioned so that they are bent inward when, for example, abare wire 130 of an insulated conductor 125 is inserted through thesmall bore portion 81, and so that their resiliency causes the V-shapedend to dig into the bare wire 130 and prevent the wire 130 from beingwithdrawn. Thus, the conductor 125 is electrically and mechanicallyconnected to one end of the terminal 90. As shown in FIGURE 5, theinsulation 131 of the conductor 125 fits in the large bore portion 80,but preferably will not fit in the small bore portion 81 so a stodetermine the distance that the bare wire 130 can be inserted into thecavity 105.

When the conductor 125 is first inserted into the wire opening 69, thebare wire 130 is inserted through the large bore portion 80 and thesmall bore portion 81 until it engages the outer surface of the wireengaging portion 102. As the conductor 125 is pushed farther into thehousing, the end of the bare wire 130 bends slightly under the resilientpressure of the terminal 90 and the slope of the wire engaging portion102. But, the end of the wire 130 can slide along under the V shaped end94. As the conductor 125 is pushed farther into the housing, the barewire 130 pushes the wire engaging portion 102 away from the adjacentwall of the housing until the bare wire 130 extends beyond the outer end127 of the wire engaging portion 102. Enough of the insulation 131should be removed so that when the insulation 131 is stopped by thesmall bore portion 81, the bare wire 130 extends beyond the outer end127 far enough to be securely held but not so far as to contact othermetallic elements in the housing and cause a short circuit or improperconnection. With the end 127 of the terminal 90 resting against the barewire 130 as shown in FIGURE 5, a force on the conductor 125 tending topull it from the housing will cause the end 127 to tend to dig into thebare wire 130 so that as the force on the conductor 125 is increased,the end 127 (supported by the wire engaging portion 102 resting on thesloping portion 113) digs deeper into the conductor 125 and holds thebare wire 130 more securely. With respect to FIGURE 5, a conductor canbe inserted into the wire opening 69 and electrically connected to theconductor 125. Similar connection can be provided by the otherterminals. It is to be understood that in this embodiment, each terminaland its respective conductors are electrically insulated from the otherterminals and their respective conductors.

If the conductor 125 is to be removed, a wire release tool 139 can beinserted into the slot 82 so as to push the wire engaging portion 102out of contact with the bare wire 130. With the wire engaging portion102 so displaced, the conductor 125 can be easily pulled out.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that my invention provides adesirable and improved electrical connector that is constructed of onlythree different parts, namely: two similar housing members, three (or aplurality of) similar interconnecting terminals, and two similar clipmembers. Thus, the invention permits a relatively small inventory ofdifferent parts to be stocked, and simplifies the assembly of theelectrical connector because fewer different parts are required at theassembly stations.

FIGURE 6 shows a unitary terminal 132 which can be used with the housing21 described above to connect siX conductors together. The terminal 132comprises three Z shaped portions 137, 140, 141 mechanically spaced tofit into the cavities and electrically connected by intermediateportions 133, 134 between their connecting portions 143, 146, 151. Theseintermediate portions 133, 134 can fit in openings 135, 136 in theinside walls 107, 110. The openings 135, 136 are preferably just largeenough to clear the intermediate portions 133, 134 of the terminals sothat if the housing is used with separate terminals, the chances of ashort circuit, caused by a metallic piece passing through the openings135, 136, are reduced. The terminal 132 operates and is assembledsimilarly to the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5.

FIGURE 7 shows another embodiment of a clip member and stud arrangementfor connecting two housing members 153, 154 together to form a housing155. Except for the clip member and arrangement of FIGURE 7, the housing155 may be identical to the housing 21 of FIGURES 1-5. Each of thehousing members 153, 154 has a stud 156 on its end. Each of the studs156 has a groove 160 formed in its edge or wall remote from the seam 161where the two housing members 153, 154 meet. A clip member 163, madefrom a flat sheet of resilient spring metal, has a central aperture cutfrom it and has a plurality of fingers 164, 16-5, 166, 167 on twoopposed sides of the aperture that snap over the studs 156 and fit inthe grooves 160 as shown in FIGURE 7. The other two opposed inside edges168, 169 of the aperture in the clip member 163 engage the other twosides of each of the studs 156 to hold them in alignment.

Another connector in accordance with my invention is shown in FIGURES8-14. This connector includes a male connector 172 and a femaleconnector 173 which are electrically and mechanically connected togetheras shown in a plan view in FIGURE 8 and in a cross-sectional view inFIGURE 9. The view of FIGURE 9 is taken along the lines 9-9 in FIGURE 8.FIGURES 10 and 11 respectively show the two connectors 172, 173 whenseparated. The connector 172 comprises two mating housing members 174,175 and the connector 173 comprises mating two housing members 177, 170.The housing members 174, 178 may be identical to the previouslydescribed housing members 22, 23. The housing members 175, 177 areidentical to one another and have respective walls 180, 181 whichrespectively mate with the housing members 174, 178 in a manner similarto that described in connection with FIGURES 15. Thus, the housingmembers 175 177, may have recesses, gaps, and projections that mate withthe housing members 174, 178 to provide an arrangement that holds themembers in alignment. An inner side view of the housing member 175 isshown in FIGURE 12, and an outside perspective view is shown in FIGURE13. The housing member 175 comprises four side walls 182, 183, 184, 185and a top wall 186. Inside the housing member 175 is divided into threecavities 193, 200, 205 by divider walls 285, 286. The cavities 193, 200,205, respectively, include ear receiving slots 195, 196, 202, 203, 207,208 which extend laterally (as seen in FIGURE 12) slightly beyond thecavities, and blade apertures 194, 201, 206 which extend through the topwall 106. As shown in FIGURES 9, 10 and 11, the blade apertures arepreferably beveled where they emerge from the top wall 186 so that it iseasier to insert a connecting blade into the apertures of the femaleconnector 173 in FIGURE 11.

Three male interconnecting terminals 210, 211, 212 are shown in FIGURE13. Since the terminals are identical, only one terminal 210 will bedescribed. This terminal 210 comprises an elongated blade 213 which hasa relatively small outer embossment 214 and a longer inner embossment215. The embossments 214, 215 serve to strengthen the blade 213, and thespace between the two embossments 214, 215 serves as an engaging surfaceor contact 222. The blade 213 has two oppositely disposed ears 216, 217which fit in or against the ear receiving slots 195, 196, 202, 203, 207,208. Behind the ears 216, 217 is a connecting bar portion 220 which isbent to form a wire engaging portion 221 similar in configuration andfunction to the wire engaging portion of the terminals 86, 87, 90 inFIGURE 4.

In the assembly of the male connector 172, the connecting bar portion220 and the wire engaging portion 221 of each terminal 210 arepositioned in a respective cavity in the housing member 174. The housingmember 175 is slipped over the blades of the terminals 210 so the bladespass through respective apertures 194, 201, 206 with the blade ears 216,217 in their respective slots. The housing members 174, 175 are heldtogether by 7 either of the two clip members located in the grooves onthe studs of the members 174, 175 as explained previously.

The female connector 173 has three terminals 242 as shown in FIGURE 14.Each terminal 242 has a blade 243 which has a contact 244 formed bybending at its end. Two ears 245, 246 project from opposite sides of theblade 243. Beyond the ears 245, 246 are a connecting bar portion 247 anda wire engaging portion 250 similar to the terminal 210 shown in FIGURE13.

In the assembly of the female connector 173, the connecting bar portion247 and the wire engaging portion 250 of each terminal 242 arepositioned in a respective cavity of the housing member 178. The housingmember 177 is slipped over the blades 243 of the terminals 242 so theblade contacts 244 are in respective apertures with the blade ears 245,246 in their respective slots. The members 177, 176 may be held togetherby clip members in the grooves of the studs.

FIGURE 9 shows electrical conductors fastened to the terminals asexplained in connection with FIGURE and also shows how the terminals 210of the male connector 172 engage the terminals 242 of the femaleconnector 173 when the connectors are joined. The parts are dimensionedso that the contact 222 of each male terminal 210 engages the contact244 of the female terminal 242. This engagement is a secure one becausethe embossments 214, 215 are on opposite sides of the contact 244 andbecause the blade apertures in the housing member 177 have a back-upwall 188 (see FIGURE 11) that forces the two terminals together.

It will thus be seen that applicants invention provides improvedelectrical connectors. These connectors require a minimum number ofdifferent parts to allow for practical and economical manufacture of thedevices. The parts are easily assembled together in varying combinationsto provide a variety of high quality electrical connectors having wideutility. This utility includes solid wire as shown, but may also includestranded wire. In the case of stranded wire, it is preferable that thestrands be tightly laid or tinned to provide sufficient strength andcoherence to be engaged and held by the interconnecting terminals. Theterminals which are shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 which provide theelectrical connections between the wires or conductors have beendescribed as being generally Z-shaped but they may be varied from such ashape and still provide interconnections between conductors. Forexample, the terminals may be more S-shaped. The various terminals canbe arranged in any desired quantity. For example, four interconnectingterminals may be provided with two terminals isolated and with twoterminals interconnected to provide interconnections for a first pair ofconductors, interconnections for a second pair of conductors, andinterconnections for two pairs of conductors. Further, different sizesof wire openings may be provided, and a single connector for connectinga large pair of conductors and for connecting a small pair of conductorsmay be provided in accordance with the invention. Also, the wireopenings need not be aligned, but may be arranged in any configurationdesired as long as the interconnecting terminals can function. Thesevarious modifications can be made to any of the embodiments shown anddescribed. Therefore, while the invention has been described wit-hreference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood thatmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising two identical housing membershaving mating walls around their perimeters that interfit to form ahousing; one of said mating walls having a projection and the matingwall opposite said one mating wall having a recess, said projection onone of said housing members fitting into said recess on the other saidhousing member to maintain said housing members in registration whenthey are assembled; each of said housing members having at least oneterminal receiving cavity therein formed by a bottom and side walls,said bottom wall having an inclined surface including at least twooffset portions, said terminal receiving cavities being in registrationwhen said housing members are assembled; each of said housing membersfurther having a conductor wire opening between said bottom wall and anexterior surface; and a terminal having a connecting bar with resilientwire engaging portions at each end thereof positioned in the cavityformed by said registered receiving cavities, said connector bar beingsupported by one of said offset portions of each housing member and saidwire engaging portions being respectively supported within the housingadjacent said conductor wire openings for resiliently engaging aconductor wire inserted therethrough.

2. An electrical connector comprising two identical housing membershaving mating walls around their perimeters that interfit to form ahousing; one of said mating walls having a projection and the matingwall opposite said one mating wall having a recess, said projection onone of said housing members fitting into said recess on the other saidhousing member to maintain said housing members in registration whenthey are assembled; each of said housing members having at least oneterminal receiving cavity therein formed by a bottom wall having asloping surface, said terminal receiving cavities being in registrationwhen said housing members are assembled; each of said housing membersfurther having a wire opening between said bottom wall and an exteriorsurface; and a Z-shaped terminal having a connecting bar with wireengaging portions at each end thereof positioned in the cavity formed bysaid registered receiving cavities, said wire engaging portions beingrespectively adjacent said wire openings for engaging a wire insertedtherethrough.

3. An electrical connector comprising two identical housing membershaving mating walls around their perimeters that interfit to form ahousing; one of said mating walls having a projection and the matingwall opposite said one mating wall having a recess, said projection onone of said housing members fitting into said recess on the other saidhousing member to maintain said housing members in registration whenthey are assembled; each of said housing members having a plurality ofterminal receiving cavities therein, each of said cavities having abottom wall having an intermediate sloping surface, said terminalreceiving cavities being in paired registration when said housingmembers are assembled; each of said housing members further having awire opening between said bottom wall and an exterior surface; and aZ-shaped terminal having a connecting bar with wire engaging portions ateach end thereof positioned in the cavity formed by each of said pair ofregistered receiving cavities, said wire engaging portions beingrespectively adjacent said wire openings for engaging a wire insertedtherethrough.

4. An electrical connector comprising two similar housing members havingmating walls that interfit to form a housing; each of said housingmembers having a projection and a recess oppositely disposed in itsmating wall so that said projection on each of said housing members fitsinto said recess on the other of said housing members to maintain saidhousing members in registration; each of said housing members having atleast one terminal receiving cavity therein, each terminal receivingcavity having a bottom wall formed by a flat base portion, a slopingportion, and a second fiat portion, said terminal receiving cavities ofsaid housing members being arranged to form a completed cavity when saidhousing members are assembled; each of said housing members havingopenings from said second fiat portion through a wall of said cavity;and a metallic terminal having a connecting bar with an engaging portionat each end, each of said engaging portions being positioned on arespective one of said sloping portions in the vicinity of a respectiveone of said openings.

5. An electrical connector comprising two similar housing members havingmating walls that interfit to form a housing; each of said housingmembers having a projection and a recess oppositely disposed in itsmating wall so that said projection on each of said housing members fitsinto said recess on the other of said housing members to maintain saidhousing members in registration; each of said housing members having aplurality of terminal receiving cavities therein; each of said terminalreceiving cavities having a bottom wall formed by a flat base portion, asloping portion, and a second flat portion; said terminal receivingcavities of said hous1ng members being arranged to form a plurality ofcOmpleted cavities when said housing members are assembled; each of saidhousing members having an opening from each of said second flat portionsthrough a Wall of said cavity; and a generally Z-shaped terminalpositioned in each of said completed cavities, each of said terminalshaving a connecting bar with a wire engaging portion at each end, eachof said wire engaging portions being positioned on a respective one ofsaid sloping portions in the vicinity of a respective one of saidapertures.

6. An electrical connector for electrically connecting two conductorstogether, said connector comprising a housing having at least one cavitytherein; said cavity having a pair of oppositely disposed andsubstantially parallel walls therein; said housing having a wire openingbetween each of said cavity walls and an exterior surface of saidhousing; and a Z-shaped terminal having a connecting bar with a wireengaging portion at each end thereof, said wire engaging portions lyingin substantially parallel and spaced planes; each of said wire engagingportions being located adjacent a respective one of said wire openingsand terminating adjacent a Wall of said cavity, whereby a first leadwire inserted through one of said wire openings will be wedged between awire engaging portion of said terminal and its respective adjacent walland thereby mechanically and electrically connected to said terminal,and whereby another lead inserted through the other of said wireopenings will be similarly connected to the other of said wire engagingportions and electrically connected to said first lead wire.

7. An electrical connector for electrically connecting two conductorstogether, said connector comprising a housing having a plurality ofcavities therein; each of said cavities having a pair of oppositelydisposed and substantially parallel walls therein, said housing having awire opening between each of said cavity walls and an exterior surfaceof said housing; and a plurality of Z- shaped terminals each having aconnecting bar with a wire engaging portion at each end thereof, saidwire engaging portions extending from said bar in substantially paralleland spaced planes; a respective terminal being positioned in each ofsaid cavities with each of said Wire engaging portions being locatedadjacent a respective one of said wire openings and terminating adjacenta wall of said cavity, whereby a lead wire inserted through one of saidwire openings will be wedged between a wire engaging portion of saidterminal and its respective adjacent wall and thereby mechanically andelectrically connected to said terminal.

8. An electrical connector comprising two similar housing members havingmating walls that interfit to form a housing, each of said housingmembers having at least one terminal receiving cavity therein, each saidterminal receiving cavity having a wall formed by two offset portions,said terminal receiving cavity of said housing members being arranged toform a completed cavity once said housing members are assembled, meansfor removably holding together said housing members, each said housingmember having a conductor wire opening through its wall formed by twooffset portions, said openings extending between outer surfaces of saidhousing members and said terminal receiving cavities; and anelectrically conductive terminal having a connecting bar portion with aresiilent portion at each end, said resilient portions respectivelyengaging said offset portions in the vicinity of a respective one ofsaid conductor wire openings for establishing a resilient electricalcontact with a conductor wire inserted therethrough.

9. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein each said housing memberwall formed by two offset portions includes a first flat portion, anintermediate portion, and a second flat portion offset from said firstflat portion, and said resilient portions of said electricallyconductive terminals being supported by said intermediate portions inthe vicinity of said conductor wire openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,327 8/ 1943 Brewer 3391982,810,115 10/1957 Abbott 339-97 2,988,724 6/1961 Larkin 339 MARVIN A.CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. J. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner,

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING TWO IDENTICAL HOUSING MEMBERSHAVING MATING WALLS AROUND THEIR PERIMETERS THAT INTERFIT TO FORM AHOUSING; ONE OF SAID MATING WALLS HAVING A PROJECTION AND THE MATINGWALL OPPOSITE SAID ONE MATING WALL HAVING A RECESS, SAID PROJECTION ONONE OF SAID HOUSING MEMBERS FITTING INTO SAID RECESS ON THE OTHER SAIDHOUSING MEMBER TO MAINTAIN SAID HOUSING MEMBERS IN REGISTRATION WHENTHEY ARE ASSEMBLED; EACH OF SAID HOUSING MEMBERS HAVING AT LEAST ONETERMINAL RECEIVING CAVITY THEREIN FORMED BY A BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS,SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING AN INCLINED SURFACE INCLUDING AT LEAST TWOOFFSET PORTIONS, SAID TERMINAL RECEIVING CAVITIES BEING IN REGISTRATIONWHEN SAID HOUSING MEMBERS ARE ASSEMBLED; EACH OF SAID HOUSING MEMBERSFURTHER HAVING A CONDUCTOR WIRE OPENING BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM WALL AND ANEXTERIOR SURFACE; AND A TERMINAL HAVING A CONNECTING BAR WITH RESILIENTWIRE ENGAGING PORTIONS AT EACH END THEREOF POSITIONED IN THE CAVITYFORMED BY SAID REGISTERED RECEIVING CAVITIES, SAID CONNECTOR BAR BEINGSUPPORTED BY ONE OF SAID OFFSET PORTIONS OF EACH HOUSING MEMBER AND SAIDWIRE ENGAGING PORTIONS BEING RESPECTIVELY SUPPORTED WITHIN THE HOUSINGADJACENT SAID CONDUCTOR WIRE OPENINGS FOR RESILIENTLY ENGAGING ACONDUCTOR WIRE INSERTED THERETHROUGH.